Helping Verbs
Verbs such as dance, play, and sing are called main verbs. Sometimes verbs are made up of several words such as shall dance, might have played, and would have talked, and could have been singing. In this case the verbs that come before the main verb and are called helping verbs.
A main verb and one or more helping verbs form a verb phrase.
Ex: He was leading the Romans.
He had been leading the Romans.
He should have leading the Romans.
Common Helping Verbs (includes some of the forms of "be & have")
am have may
are has might
is had must
was can shall
were could should
be do will
being does would
been did
Copy the sentences below. (print-pencil) Underline the helping verb(s) and circle the main verb (ink).
1. Macedonia had allied itself with Carthage.
2. The Romans were attainig a strong position in the Mediterranean area.
3. Rome had defeated the city-states.
4. All Greek territories would be placed under Roman rule.
5. Athens and Sparta could remain free states.
6. The political role of the city-state had declined.
7. In later years, Greece did experience a rebirth.
8. Trade and intellectual activities were thriving.
Write Sentences with Helping Verbs
Using the following verb phrases, write five original sentences. (cursive and ink = penmanship pts.)
1. were going
2. must have known
3. should have been studying
4. had been listening
5. might rebound
Verbs such as dance, play, and sing are called main verbs. Sometimes verbs are made up of several words such as shall dance, might have played, and would have talked, and could have been singing. In this case the verbs that come before the main verb and are called helping verbs.
A main verb and one or more helping verbs form a verb phrase.
Ex: He was leading the Romans.
He had been leading the Romans.
He should have leading the Romans.
Common Helping Verbs (includes some of the forms of "be & have")
am have may
are has might
is had must
was can shall
were could should
be do will
being does would
been did
Copy the sentences below. (print-pencil) Underline the helping verb(s) and circle the main verb (ink).
1. Macedonia had allied itself with Carthage.
2. The Romans were attainig a strong position in the Mediterranean area.
3. Rome had defeated the city-states.
4. All Greek territories would be placed under Roman rule.
5. Athens and Sparta could remain free states.
6. The political role of the city-state had declined.
7. In later years, Greece did experience a rebirth.
8. Trade and intellectual activities were thriving.
Write Sentences with Helping Verbs
Using the following verb phrases, write five original sentences. (cursive and ink = penmanship pts.)
1. were going
2. must have known
3. should have been studying
4. had been listening
5. might rebound